alt Hacker News> If you're buying a Subaru, you're buying it because you value safety and reliability of the car
If I want that, why wouldn’t I buy Toyota/Honda?
Replies
TreeInBuxton • yesterday at 9:32 PM
To be fair, the Subaru Solterra is a rebadged Toyota bz4x, so I suppose you basically are buying a Toyota?
Well, historically Subaru hits a different market segment than Toyota/Honda.
This curious bit is that it was 'You want something between a Toyota/Honda and a Lexus/Acura, but closer to the capability of a Jeep'. Where it's more curious, is that the modern Subaru hybrids are actually better at off-roading than the new Jeep Cherokee hybrid.
Why is that? Well at least IMO it's cause Subaru sticks to their guns, their hybrid system sticks to what they have always tried to do versus the Jeep doing, at least AFAIK, the same sort of 'AWD' hybrid setup of most hybrids, where the rear wheels are electric only and you have to wait for the computer to decide to apply Any power.
Interestingly, The closest hybrid AWD design I'm aware of to what Subaru is doing, is Ford with the AWD HF55 on the Maverick, in that case they are doing it to also help make sure it can meet the needs for 4K towing.
It's not as efficient, but it is at last consistent from a branding execution strategy. Definitely moreso than Jeep who has watered down everything they sell so much it's... who knows anymore.